Category Archives: Life in Switzerland

Wild Orchids in Switzerland

Posted on June 17, 2018 by

A couple of weeks ago, a friend and I went out in search of orchids… wild ones. Close to the Switzerland-Germany border, there’s a tiny place called Bargen. It’s known for being the most northerly village in the country, and … Continue reading →

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Places in – pictures? Or words??

Posted on April 8, 2018 by

When I was seven or eight, our next-door neighbour – an elderly lady – had an ash tree in her garden, right on the border with ours. Her garden was half-wild, and to my great joy there was no fence … Continue reading →

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Memories…

Posted on March 18, 2018 by

We’ve been looking at a lot of old photos recently, sorting out my father’s collection after his death in January. The photo of Dad that terribly hot summer in Switzerland – the one and only time I remember him wearing … Continue reading →

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2017 – the best of times and the worst of times… (a minimalist’s version)

Posted on December 31, 2017 by

Another year bites the dust, and like most years, 2017 had its ups and downs. Here are a few of mine: Best decision – turning some of my old magazine stories into a charity anthology for a year. All profits made … Continue reading →

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Christmas Swiss-Style

Posted on December 20, 2017 by

So what’s the difference? Quite a lot, especially if you believe in the magic of Santa Claus. He doesn’t come to Switzerland, you see. But let’s look at the entire festive season, starting with Advent. (We’ll ignore all the Christmas … Continue reading →

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Black and white…

Posted on November 12, 2017 by

I can remember – just – when my parents had a black and white television. I remember my father’s old camera, too, with its black and white photos, most of which are unfortunately now lost. At some point, a new … Continue reading →

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Tiramisu – best recipe ever…

Posted on October 1, 2017 by

We eat to live in this flat. Even though I’m glued to the set this time every year, watching The Great British Bake Off, I’ve never been a fan of standing for hours in the kitchen, and the characters in … Continue reading →

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Over the sea to… Friedreichshafen

Posted on August 27, 2017 by

Our lake – Lake Constance – is huge. 536 square kilometres, to be exact. Standing on the banks on a misty day, you can almost imagine you’re gazing out over the Atlantic. The photo below was taken from the Austrian … Continue reading →

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River…

Posted on June 4, 2017 by

I’ve always lived near water. In Glasgow, we have the Clyde, and nowhere in Scotland is hugely far from the sea. (Insert horror memories of learning to swim in a North Sea fed pool in St Andrews.) Arriving in Switzerland … Continue reading →

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Summer…

Posted on May 28, 2017 by

At long last we’re getting shorts and t-shirts weather here in N.E. Switzerland, and it’s lovely. Breakfast on the balcony overlooking the woods, birds singing and wasps buzzing – okay, maybe I could do without the buzzing wasps. Here’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in Switzerland, My books | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments